I helped my good friend's brother

Out of trouble when he was in jail

I was rushed 'cause I got lucky

Paid his lawyer and I paid his bail

Glad to be able just to pay the price

The price it took to set him free

I never heard a single "thank you" at all

You'd think by now I could see



All the good that I did was for nothing, aah

All the good that I did was for nothing

Why don't I just let it be?



I fought for two young lovers

New York artists they were on the run

Got them out to California

One was gifted and the other was fun



Merchants will always be merchants, of course

But an artist's is a fragile life

And it's something I have always believed

Memory cuts like a knife



All the good that I did was for nothing, aah

All the good that I did was for nothing, aah

All the good that I did was for nothing

All the good that I did

(All the good that I did)

Why can't I just let it be?



All the good that I did was for nothing, aah

All the good that I did

All the good that I did was for nothing

All the good I did

All the good I did

All the good I did was for nothing